Home    |   Barbed Wire
stream with a trickle of water falling from above
Barbed Wire   |   federal issues   |   water quality EPA Reinforces Alignment of Clean Water Act Section 401 with “Powering the Great American Comeback” Initiative

On May 22, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a memorandum clarifying the specific and limited role of States and Tribes in the federal licensing and permitting processes under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA). The EPA reiterates its position that States and Tribes must utilize Section 401 only for its statutory purpose – to protect water quality

wooden blocks laid on top of large paper with containing colorful graphs and charts
Barbed Wire DHCS Announces First Round of Prop 1 BHCIP Funding

On May 12th, the Department of Health Care Services announced $3.3 billion in grants from the first round of Proposition 1 Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Bond funding. These grants were awarded to counties

classroom with chalkboard and desks
Barbed Wire   |   federal budget   |   federal issues House Agriculture Committee Advances SRS Reauthorization by way of Reconciliation Bill

On May 14, the House Agriculture Committee voted 29-25 along party lines to advance its reconciliation bill. While the measure contains many impactful provisions, perhaps the most notable is the inclusion of reauthorization language for the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program. Until now, SRS reauthorization has been stalled in the House of Representatives, despite significant bipartisan support in the Senate